Qualcomm Incorporated

Zdravko Lukic

Todd Robert Sutton

Joseph Duncan

Marko Harry Koski

Orlando Santiago

Rashed Hoque

Gordon P Lee

Chris M Rosolowski

Marko Koski

Chris Rosolowski

A voltage regulator circuit using predictively precharged voltage rails is generally disclosed. For example, the voltage regulator circuit may include a main switching regulator configured to provide a target voltage, the main switching regulator having a first voltage node, a precharge switching regulator configured to provide a precharge voltage, the precharge switching regulator having a second voltage node, the precharge voltage based on a difference between the target voltage and a next target voltage to be provided by the main switching regulator, and a precharge switch circuit configured to selectively couple the second voltage node to an output voltage node based upon a transition from the target voltage to the next target voltage.

Methods and apparatuses for voltage regulation using predictively charged precharge rails

The present disclosure describes aspects of voltage settling detection for switching regulators. In some aspects, an integrated circuit for controlling a switching regulator includes a modulator having an output coupled to switch drive circuitry of the switching regulator. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) has a first output coupled to an input of the modulator and a second output configured to indicate when a digital-to-analog conversion is complete. A voltage settling detector is configured to receive, from the second output of DAC, an indication that the digital-to-analog conversion is complete and detect a signal transition at the output of the modulator. Based on the indication and the signal transition, the voltage settling detector can provide a status indication for the switching regulator. By so doing, the voltage settling detector may indicate that an output voltage of the switching regulator is proximate a target output voltage level set by the DAC.

Voltage settling detection for switching regulators

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Zdravko Lukic